Adventure week trips

Grade 7 - Introduction to Outdoor Skills, Gatineau Park, Québec
Students participate in a four day outdoor skills development programme that will put them in good stead for their years at Sedbergh School. Incorporating part of their English class, students study Hatchett by Gary Paulson in preparation for the trip. Camping in the park on their first evening, the next day is spent acquiring basic camping skills. Activities include building traditional lean-tos in which students are encouraged to sleep. Integration of the geography unit occurs on the second full day. Honing their map reading and navigation skills, students hike to the Lusk Caves and travel underground through the cave network. Staying above ground, students mountain-bike to a scenic lookout and picnic lunch enabling them to see first hand the wonders of the Gatineau Hills in the autumn. On their final day, students only participate in a short hike so that they are back at school in time for supper.

Grade 8 - Wilderness Survival Course, St-Sauveur, Québec
Over the course of the week, students learn through hands-on experience what skills they need to survive in the forest without modern conveniences. The purpose of course is for students to learn survival techniques, embrace challenge, learn to work in a group, develop as an individual and gain a greater appreciation of the outdoors. Students are introduced to a variety of wilderness survival skills using only materials from the forest. Highlights of the course include lighting a fire with a bow drill, sleeping in a lean-to built of sticks and leaves, carving bowls and spoons from wood, cooking tasty meals over an open fire and participating in nature awareness activities.

Grade 9 - Algonquin Dog Sledding Adventure, Algonquin Park, Ontario
In collaboration with Chocpaw Expeditions, grade 9 students will spend four days in Algonquin Park in early January. Chocpaw Expeditions (www.chocpaw.com) has over 30 years experience tripping with youth. Under the supervision of Chocpaw staff, students interact with and are responsible for harnessing dogs, hooking up teams and packing sleds. Travelling between two and five hours daily, students transit the north-east corner of the park to one of five pre-set camps. All camps have raised plywood floors and wood-stoves. Winter weather conditions and travelling by dog-sled help students learn the importance of team work and self-reliance.

Grade 10 - Fort Henry and St. Lawrence II, Kingston, Ontario
As an introduction to the Wilderness Integrated Course (WIC), students relive two significant periods of Canadian history, The Age of Exploration and the War of 1812. On their first day, students become new recruits circa 1867 at Fort Henry. Experiencing history first hand, reading the journals of soldiers and explorers, students gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by historical figures. The remainder of the trip is spent aboard the 70ft brigantine the St. Lawrence II, home port Kingston. With traditional rigging and a three watch system, students crew and sail the ship around the clock. Students are required to set personal and group goals as well as keep a detailed personal journal throughout their experiences.

Grade 11 - Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Successful completion of this intensive five day course will earn participating students two credits in Marine Biology. Residing on site at the residence facilities, students live in dormitory style rooms.

Taking advantage of the tidal environments in the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, the students' academic programme includes classroom sessions, field trips and laboratory activities. Most field trips concentrate on observing and collecting samples of invertebrate fauna from the various habitat and shoreline types. Student may also participate in an introduction to aquaculture. Lab activities are formalised and encompass the introductory study of plankton, seaweed, fish and oceanography. Students are often given specific tasks and assignments associated with the lab activities.

Grade 12 - Punta Mona and St. Luis, Costa Rica
Although an optional experience for grade 12, all students are strongly encouraged to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. This experience integrates their courses in biology, data management, environmental studies and thesis project.

The trip comprises two distinct programs, the first of which is the Punta Mona Center located on the Caribbean coast. To reach the centre, students must hike through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Upon arrival, students live in the village and experience first-hands the beauty and challenges of sustainable living. Students eat foods grown locally and harvested from the sea, help maintain and plant next year's food gardens and under the canopy of the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, learn the culture and customs of the Bribri people.

The second half of the trip occurs inland in the rainforest at the University of Georgia's biological research station Ecolodge San Luis (www.ecolodgesanluis.com). Students will have an opportunity to study the bio-diversity and ecology of the rain forest. Concepts presented in class are reinforced with hands-on activities and projects. These include trapping bats, studying birds, taking Spanish lessons and riding a zip-line through the forest canopy. Students will also develop a mini-project on a topic of interest, enabling them to investigate an aspect of forest ecology. This independent project also provides students with the opportunity to apply their learned skills in research and environmental knowledge.